Adobe CS3 Installation Failure: The Solution for Error 1714

With the recent release of Adobe CS3 , many customers are having extreme difficulty installing the product, so much so that Adobe's Tech Support currently seems overwhelmed and unable to provide a definitive answer to this unusual , frustrating and difficult problem. I myself spent about 36 hours trying to find a solution for my PC, trying all the suggestions in the Adobe Tech notes and consulting with an Adobe Technician, to no avail. But, I finally found the solution below for the PC.

An unsuccessful attempt will give you a message stating that your version of CS3 failed installation, as well as "Shared Components Failed to Install". If you try to open a program, it will say "The license for this program has stopped working...etc" , or you may even get to a screen that asks for the serial number, but when you type it in it says the number is invalid. The version I was attempting to install was CS3 Web Premium.

Also, if you, or a tech-guy check the Event Viewer, (Start > Run > type "eventvwr" in box); in the Application log you will find an error message stating:
"Product: Adobe Flash Player 9 Plugin -- Error 1714.The older version of Adobe Flash Player 9 Plugin cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group. System Error 1612."

Here's the steps you or your technician/computer geek should take. (Follow this order):

Step 1) remove all Adobe products (previously installed as well as the portions of CS3 that did install).(Start > Settings > Control Panel >Add and Remove Programs) If you get an error notice on one of the programs, just remove it from the program list if it asks you to, and then continue to the end.

Step 2) Flash Player removal is the main problem here. To remove it, go to this link.
and download the Flash Player Removal uninstaller.

Step 3) Error 1714 refers to an inability of the CS3 installer to remove previously installed Adobe products. There are two cleanup utilities that remove the programs and the registry files associated with them. Use these links and instructions:

-Download this Microsoft Cleanup Utility:
Go to this link
-Download, install, and run. (Fairly simple and fast) You need to scroll down the list and select each Adobe Products and click "remove" I did it one by one to be thorough.

-Download this CS3 Clean Script:
Go to this link
-This is an old-fashioned DOS utility (white letters on a black screen). Don't be intimidated, just read through and type "y" for yes or "n" for no, for the options. Some people may get stuck here on the questions. The first time I went through it I talked to an Adobe Technician at 800-642-3632. I followed his suggestions on the yes/no questions (y/n). I chose not to back up any files or see a preview. The directions suggest starting the clean on level 1 first. I skipped it and went straight to level 2.

Step 4) This the MOST IMPORTANT step. I tried all of the previous steps a few times with no success until I did this. It turned out that some startup function kept automatically re-installing Adobe Flash Player 8 when I restarted my PC, and that caused the problem with installing CS3 to re-occur. It is therefore necessary to change settings on the System Configuration Utility. To do this:

-Click Start, then Run, type "msconfig" in the box, then press enter
-Click on the Services Tab
-Check the little box on the lower left that says "Hide all Microsoft Services" and then click the rectangular button on the right that reads "Disable All"
-Click Apply
- then Click on the Startup Tab (on the top right), and click Disable All, and close the utility

Step 5) Restart your PC and then run the CS3 installation again. It should install successfully.
Note: the next time you start your PC you will get a notice stating that you have changed your settings on the System Configuration Utility. You will then need to simply select the "Normal" settings check box on the utility to have it restored to default settings.

Resources:

Flash Player Remover: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_14157&sliceId=2

Microsoft Cleanup Utility: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Adobe CS3 Cleanscript: http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cs3clean.html